When a characteristic does not meet tolerance requirements, companies like Metabowerke GmbH of Nürtingen, Germany, must react quickly to troubleshoot the production problem. That reaction could be delayed if someone is using outdated inspection plans, or if there is an error in transferring manually captured measuring and inspection data.

Does the future have to look futuristic? Do its systems have to perform in a complex way?
Questions like these are germane to many of the topics most relevant to the advance of manufacturing today. Take “automation,” for example. The idea is often associated with robots and entirely unattended processes. But too much bias toward that

How users and builders of machine tools can benefit from factory digitalization and integration is the main theme of the Siemens booth at EMO 2017. Highlights include enhancements to the company’s Sinumerik CNC software as well as the introduction of MindSphere, a cloud-based platform for hosting applications that enable manufacturing

The V4.1.00.00 version of NUM’s Flexium+ CNC platform provides a tool management system for operating multiple CNCs. It is designed to provide a comprehensive and accessible database that can be installed on a server platform for use with multiple CNCs in a large production plant, or used standalone on a single CNC.
The software includes PLC

There are a couple of primary reasons hundreds of companies each year participate in our Top Shops benchmarking survey. One reason is because the survey highlights the technologies, processes and strategies that leading companies are applying, both on the shop floor and in the front office. Another is that the participation in the survey enables

EMO 2017: Fastems will introduce version six of its Manufacturing Management software for automated pallet handling in metalworking, which includes planning, controlling, visualization and monitoring capabilities. New Product Post: 8/14/2017
Edited by Julia Hider
Assistant Editor, Modern Machine Shop Fastems will introduce version six of its

Shoptech is releasing its web-based E2 Shop System in the form of a software as a service (SaaS). The system is designed specifically for job shops and contract manufacturers that deals with constantly changing due dates/quantities and daily job schedule changes. The system is said to fit all types of shops, facilitating estimating, orders,

LNS is implementing e-CONNECT solutions to integrate their products, in particular bar feeders, into their customers’ ERP and MES systems. This will allow LNS customers to get full transparency about the workload of each machine, production cycle times and expected production at first glance, the company says. Large and small companies

Software Duplicates Operations, Procedures from One Document to Another

September 26, 2017

EMO 2017: Missler Software will showcase new functionalities for its TopSolid’Cam CAD/CAM/ERP software, which include a feature that enables operations and procedures to be duplicated from one document to another; inclusion of machine components in a machining files for managing multiple toolholders or accessories; and simulation of

Wasted time away from workcenters is what the people at Henning Software had in mind when they introduced the iVET Mobile Application. This mobile app is tied directly to the company’s popular Visual EstiTrack ERP Shop Management Software.
That mobility feature was important to Precision Plus, Henning’s customer in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

The Dutch software company Exact Group B.V. (Exact) has announced that ECi Software Solutions Inc. (Fort Worth, Texas) is acquiring its Macola, JobBoss and Max divisions. The deal, is expected to close within the next two months.
The transaction is expected to allow Exact to increase focus and accelerate growth with its global solution

Version 4.0 of Tebis CAD/CAM software features a redesigned user interface for improved production processes in model, mold and die manufacturing.New Product Post: 7/6/2016
Edited by Katie Cattell
Editorial Intern, Modern Machine Shop Version 4.0 of Tebis CAD/CAM software features a redesigned user interface for improved production processes in

Amerimold 2017: CGS will introduce Version 13 of its CAM-Tool software for 3D machining of molds and dies. New Product Post: 5/2/2017
Edited by El McKenzie Managing Editor, Products Finishing magazine CGS will introduce Version 13 of its CAM-Tool software for 3D machining of molds and dies. This version includes upgrades to simultaneous five-axis

Tebis America (Troy, Michigan), a software company specializing in CAD/CAM systems for design and manufacturing serving the tool, die, mold, automotive and aerospace industries, has appointed John Kowalczyk as Senior Manager of Global Strategic Accounts and Mark Cadogan as Vice President of Sales for North America.
In his new position, Mr.

EZ-CAM Launches Custom Video Support Service for Programming Challenges

September 26, 2017

EZ-CAM Solutions Inc. (North Brookfield, Massachusetts) has launched a new service for users of its CAM software for troubleshooting programming difficulties. Custom support videos by technician staff can now be provided to solve and demonstrate problems.
“Everyone gets pressed to complete a project now and then,” the company says.

As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. Such was the case for Steve Molina and Jeff Krause, who, when they anticipated its imminent failure, left their previous employer to start their own business in Santa Barbara, California. From their work experience, the men knew they would need to invest in GibbsCAM software by 3D Systems

Around 300 customers, dealers, resellers and employees of DP Technology and its Esprit CAM system gathered in Universal City, California, in June for the company’s 15th annual weeklong conference and training. Taking on the theme of “Lights, CAM, Action,” the Esprit World Conference 2017 focused on training and inspiration,

Amerimold 2017: Vero Software will demonstrate WorkNC 2017 R1, which features a new parallel finishing tool path that the company says has achieved cycle-time reductions of as much as 80 percent. New Product Post: 5/18/2017
Edited by El McKenzie Managing Editor, Products Finishing magazine Vero Software will demonstrate WorkNC 2017 R1, which

CGTech will showcase the latest version of its Vericut CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software. Like earlier versions, Version 8.0.2 can operate independently or be integrated with leading CAM systems. This full integration with the CAD/CAM and machine tool industry is an important attribute of the software, the company says.

Creative CNC has upgraded the product development features of its ZW3D 2017 CAD/CAM software. Included are an improved data exchange translator and modeling interactions, new mold functions, and enhanced five-axis milling controls.
The new data exchange translator supports mainstream file formats generated by CAD solutions including Catia

DP Technology has announced its Esprit Additive Suite, a comprehensive software product designed to deliver efficiency and accuracy while simplifying the additive manufacturing process into a few steps. The software delivers machine-optimized job files and process control for direct metal deposition machines and 3D powder bed fusion

Open Mind offers the Maxx Machining performance package for its HyperMill CAM system, which features modules for finishing, roughing and drilling.
The roughing module includes trochoidal milling cycles for fast and reliable HPC machining of prismatic and curved component faces. Dynamic feed rate adjustment according to cutting conditions

ModuleWorks, a supplier of CAD/CAM software components for machining and simulation, has announced an agreement with Siemens PLM Software. ModuleWorks is providing and further developing advanced CAM programming technology to be integrated into Siemens’ NX software, an integrated CAD/CAM/CAE solution. The close working arrangement with

Cimquest Inc., a provider of manufacturing products and services and a Mastercam reseller, announced in August the expansion of its Mastercam business territory. Accordingly, Cimquest has taken over Fisher Unitech’s Mastercam business in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia for Mastercam sales, support and services. The deal significantly

The sixth biennial Gosigerfest is scheduled to be held at Gosiger’s campus in downtown Dayton, Ohio, September 20-21, 2017. At the time of publication, more than 1,000 are said to have registered, including decision makers, engineers, operators and suppliers, to attend the two-day manufacturing event featuring live demonstrations and

Power Automation America offers a Fadal turnkey retrofit operator panel, the PA FDL, based on emulation technology. THe open-architecture, software-based CNC behaves like the legacy Fadal CNC, the company says. The panel layout and labeling has been created in the same familiar style using an industrial-quality 17" high-resolution touchscreen with

Heidenhain’s TNC 620 contouring controls now include touchscreen technology designed to enable operators to navigate quickly and intuitively through lists, programs, tables and other content via kinetic scrolling. A slow, brief swiping movement results in scrolling over a few lines. A longer, quick movement leads to dynamic scrolling over

Over recent years, the evolution of such concepts as condition monitoring and adaptive control have been substantial. Condition monitoring, as the name implies, watched the relationship between theoretical and actual speeds and feeds, making preprogrammed or set adjustments as needed. Adaptive control was the next iteration, as the CNC could detect

Westec 2017: The Fagor 8065 CNC is designed for high-performance applications and equipped with features for high-speed machining while maintaining accuracy and surface finish. New Product Post: 8/31/2017
Edited by Julia Hider
Assistant Editor, Modern Machine Shop The Fagor 8065 CNC is designed for high-performance applications and equipped

Autodesk will present the 2018 versions of its major CAD/CAM software including PowerMill. The major new update is a ribbon-style user interface. Users will still be able to easily find and access important tools, but the 2018 versions categorize functionality into similar groupings, with the most commonly-used features located front and center.

Siemens has expanded the scope of its Sinumerik 828D CNC family with software version 4.7 and the PPU 2xx.3. The Sinumerik 828D Advanced enables control of as many as 10 axes/spindles and two auxiliary axes, and the Sinumerik 828D offers a second machining channel for simultaneous machining with two tools. The update also increases the range of

CamInstructor Inc. (Kitchener, Ontario) has announced new online CNC programming training courses of interest to manufacturers. The course offerings are designed for people brand new to CNC machine tool programming as well as for more experienced programmers who may need to get up to speed on the latest software release.
The new course bundle,

CamInstructor Inc.’s CNC programming training courses are designed for people brand new to CNC machine tool programming as well as for more experienced programmers who may need a refresher or get up to speed on the latest software release. According to the company, the course bundle, called CamInstructor Premium, includes training in

Schunk (Morrisville, North Carolina) has hired Bo Shomaker as Vice President of Sales, Tooling and Workholding.
Mr. Shomaker brings 27 years of experience in the metalworking industry. Beginning his career as a metalworking engineer, his background includes engineering, technical sales, sales management, general management and strategic account

New Product Post: 8/15/2017
Julia Hider
Assistant Editor, Modern Machine Shop Vektek will showcase its TuffLink 360-degree adjustable link clamp. The clamp is designed with a rotary lug to provide 360 degrees of lever positioning around an independent mounting flange, freeing fixture builders from being restricted to two or three

Westec 2017: Kurt will show its lineup of vises for five-axis, high-precision production machining, including its DX6 CrossOver vise. New Product Post: 8/9/2017
Edited by Julia Hider
Assistant Editor, Modern Machine Shop Kurt will show its lineup of vises for five-axis, high-precision production machining, including its DX6 CrossOver vise. The

Schunk, Inc.'s Rota TB2 pneumatic self-contained power chuck features a new design to reduce maintenance costs and ensure process reliability. Despite the compact outer dimensions, the Rota TB2 has a large through-hole ranging to 560 mm. With an air pressure of 6 bar, it is possible to achieve high clamping forces of up to 280

Finish grinding close tolerances for roundness and concentricity of thin-walled rings and sleeves or a rolling element such as a bearing raceway poses tricky workholding problems. The surface-profile shape must be extremely precise. Ideally, to achieve these close tolerances, the process should allow machining of both external and internal

Schunk USA has started construction of an expansion at its U.S. headquarters in Morrisville, North Carolina, which will more than double the size of existing facilities. The U.S. headquarters is already the company’s largest facility outside of Germany. This expansion will provide space for a new tech center and training facility, additional

The PL Lehmann 500 series of modular multi-axis rotary tables, available in North America through Exsys, can upgrade a VMC to increase productivity without the expense of a new machine. New Product Post: 9/14/2017
Edited by Julia Hider
Assistant Editor, Modern Machine Shop The PL Lehmann 500 series of modular multi-axis rotary tables, available in

Updated daily, mfrtech.com includes featured articles and manufacturing news, product releases, business expansions, acquisitions and business forecasts submitted by our visitors or authored by editorial staff.